Nose-bag for feeding horses and other animals.



PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

A; L. HODGE. NOSE BAG FOR FEEDING HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETQE,

ALFRED LUCUS HODGE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed November 20.1908. Serial No. 344,345.

Be it known that I, ALFRED LUoUs Honor, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nose-Bags for Feeding Horses and other Animals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in nose-bags for feeding horses; and the object of the invention is the provision of a bag of this character which is normally held distended by the weight of the feed therein and which automatically collapses as the feed is removed therefrom, so that the feed. in the bag will always be maintained in close proximity to the mouth of the animal without regard to the amount contained therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for distending the bag, so that the same may be readily refilled.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals of reference refer to similar parts in the several views and wherein a preferable embodiment of my invention is shown.

in the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved nose-bag in its normal or collapsed position; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, part being broken away, showing the bag in its distended position when filled.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a designates bag made of any suitable flexible material, the lower end of which is closed by a suitable bottom (Z, which is preferably made of rigid material and to the upper end of which is secured a suitable strap or band 6, which is adapted to be passed over-the horses head to secure the bag in position. Lying in close proximity to the interior of the bag a is a coil-spring (Z, the upper coil of which is secured in any suitable manner to the upper portion of the bag a and the lower coil of which is secured to the bottom (Z. The intermediate coils of the spring d may also, if desired, be secured by stitching or any other suitable means to the sides of the bag.

The tension of the spring (Z is such that when the bag (L is empty it will be held in its closed or collapsed posi tion, as shown in Fig. 1, but that when the bag is .lilled with feed the weight of the feed will be sullicient to overcome the tension of the spring and distend the bag. From this construction it will be obvious that as long as there is any feed in the bag the same will always be held in close proximity to the mouth of the animal being fed.

To facilitate the filling of the bag, the bottom (1 thereof is provided with a foot-piece E, which is secured to the under side thereof and extends laterally beyond the side wall of the bag. To fill the bag, the user places his foot upon the foot-piece E to hold the bottom of the bag against movement and lifts upwardly upon either the strap 1) or the upper portion of the bag to effect the distention of the spring, and consequently the opening of the bag.

do not desire to limit myself to the precise form of construction. shown in the accompanying drawings, as it is obvious that many minor changes might be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a bag, a spring serving to normally hold said bag in a collapsed position, and a foot-piece extending laterally from the lower end of said bag.-

2. In a device of the character described, a flexible bag, a spring normally serving to hold said bag in a collapsed position, and a foot-piece secured to the bottom of the bag and extending laterally to one side thereof.

3. in a device of the character described, a flexible bag, a coil-spring secured within said bag adjacent the inner wall thereof and serving to normally maintain the same in a collapsed position, and a foot-piece extending laterally from the cover end of the bag.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED LUCUS HODGE.

itnesses:

G. B. CoULsoN, JOHN M. SPELLMAN. 

